As Parkes is the birth place of a movement that has gone national, many residents will know its signature red car.

Founder of Paint the Town REaD (PTTR), Rhonda Brain, decided it was time to give someone else a turn to sit in the driver seat of the other famous ‘big red car’. Rhonda has travelled thousands of kilometres since the launch of Paint The Town REaD in 1997 helping and encouraging many of the 98 communities across Australia who are now avid supporters of the movement’s key message: REaD, Talk, Sing and Rhyme with your child every day from birth.

Rhonda recently handed over the keys to Neighbourhood Central where Paint Parkes REaD Co-ordinator, Shonel Redfern, will be responsible for keeping the all-important message spreading in the community.

“Most of us are now aware that one of the valuable ways to encourage early literacy is through community involvement, and both the original and present committees are so grateful for the continued, cooperative, and generous interaction with, and engagement of, our community,” said Shonel.

Rhonda will remain actively involved in Paint Parkes REaD and its committee members who are already getting ready for this year’s Community Reading Day to be held during Book Week in August.

Rhonda will also continue in her position as creative director of the national board. Rhonda and Shonel are working with Executive Director Barbie Bates, and the NSW State Co-ordination Robyne Harrison looking into the feasibility of holding the 9th National Conference in the Parkes Shire next year. To this end, Barbie and Robyne will be in Parkes in early March.

Next year marks a very special anniversary and gives Parkes more reason for hosting the conference as it will be 25 years since Birth to Kindergarten (now Paint The Town REaD) began its major promotional activities across our community. There are so many memories here!

This year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme will run again from 1st March to 31st May and local businesses are invited to take part.

Entering its 12th year, the multi award-winning scheme provides for partnerships between participating councils and local businesses. The councils provide the marketing and administer the scheme while the participating businesses provide the free cuppas.

“We find that the majority of participating businesses give away between 15 and 30 free over the three-month period. Most travellers that claim free cuppas want to support the participating businesses and will buy extra coffees or food,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

She said since its inception the scheme had given away more than 27,000 free cuppas in 265 participating businesses across 91 towns, villages and cities in regional NSW.

“Just being part of the network of participating businesses is already helping to raise awareness of the dangers of driver fatigue. Our deepest thanks to all of the businesses that have participated previously – we quite literally could not have run this program without your support,” Melanie said.

Drivers are entitled to a free cuppa at participating businesses if they are more than 100km away from the address on their licence.

Registrations for the 2022 scheme are open until Monday, 31st January. Go to www.freecuppa.com.au to sign up and find more information about the scheme.

Four projects totalling almost $900,000 will be delivered across the Parkes Shire to deliver new and upgraded facilities, infrastructure and programs that make a big difference to everyday life in the bush.

“In the Parkes Shire, we’re going to see over $843,584 invested across four projects,” said Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Sam Farraway. Turf 1 hockey field will receive $483,584 for stage 2 of the $3 million redevelopment of the field. Tullamore Pool will receive $100,000 for upgrading the pools fibreglass shell.

A $200,000 grant has been allocated for a new pump track to be constructed next door to the skate park providing an all age and ability course for the community. The fourth project is $60,000 for Trundle Ladies Flex Their Muscles to purchase new exercise equipment.

The new year has started with a stark COVID reality check for Parkes Shire residents as the third and largest wave of the outbreak did not spare our town this time round.

On Wednesday another 14 positive cases were added to bring the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Parkes Shire to 336, of which 220 were still active with the Omi-cron variant proving more contagious and difficult to contain.

The highest daily rate so far for Parkes was recorded on 15th January with a total of 35 new cases.

The COVID situation was discussed at the Parkes Shire Council meeting on Tuesday. Chief Operating Officer Anthony McGrath reported that while a total of 24 staff members had contracted COVID so far, it had not yet impacted Council’s services.

“We’ve put special management procedures in place to ensure water and sewage staff do not have to be in contact at work,” Mayor Ken Keith said.

Deputy Mayor Neil Westcott highlighted the positive effect being vaccinated had with 67% of all hospitalisations were of people not vaccinated at all. “We need to remain vigilant and make sure to get vaccinated,” he said.

Parkes has been earmarked for a special vaccination hub for booster shots and children aged five to 11. The date of the hub will be confirmed soon.

Internationally acclaimed concert soloist Jane Rutter will be the Parkes Shire’s 2022 Australia Day Ambassador.

Jane received the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’) award from the French Government in 2016 in recognition of her significant contributions to arts and literature in France.

Jane studied under the great French flute players Jean-Pierre Rampal and Alain Marion, and has become one of the few flautists in the world who has successfully crossed over into the world of jazz, pop and cabaret.

Known for her onstage warmth, she brilliantly conveys passion, sparkling technique and elegance of expression through her beautiful flute playing.

Jane is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Music, an award-winning TV presenter and multi-ARIA (Australian Grammy) nominee and has appeared as soloist with many orchestras including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and on the same bill as Pavarotti, Carreras, The Manhattan Transfer, Tina Arena, Tommy Emmanuel, Michael Crawford and many others.

Jane is renowned for her relaxed onstage charm and musical imagination, and is also an inspiring music educator and lecturer in performance pedagogy, flute and chamber music. She spends time on environmental issues, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she created a series of online meditations to assist those with stress.

Jane is in demand as an artistic director and composer. Her Live at Lunch series at The Concourse, Chatswood is one of Australia’s most successful concert series. Jane has become a household name in Australia and has been featured on 60 Minutes, and in Vogue Magazine.

“We are honoured to have Jane attend our special Australia Day activities at Peak Hill and Parkes, as well as present the Citizenship, Cultural and Sporting Awards during the official ceremonies,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM. “We look forward to hearing about Jane’s worldwide experiences, travels and performances.”